Teachers fans, too, so no school

High absenteeism forces district to bend, call off classes today

For years, the Georgia-Florida football game has given school principals and secretaries massive headaches - even 360 miles away.

The Friday before the annual game is the worst for teacher absences, leaving principals scrambling to fill vacant classrooms.

And even substitutes are hard to come by.

So, this year, the Clarke County School District closed down today, after administrators studying the absentee phenomenon discovered that almost twice as many teachers call off work the Friday before the big game than on an average school day.

Before the game last year, 136 teachers called off and the district could find only 113 substitutes. On an average day during the past school year, 69 teachers stayed home and only one class remained without a substitute teacher.

"After one particular year where we really had to struggle coming up with substitute teachers to cover classes, (former superintendent Lewis Holloway) suggested the next time we come up with an academic calendar that we consider using that day as a holiday since so many people were out," said school district spokesman Mike Wooten.

But not everyone approves of the Georgia-Florida holiday.

Some parents and teachers say taking the day off places too much importance on football over academics.

"I've heard parents say that it's ridiculous, but the reality of the situation is, if there are so many people in this system and this community that go to the game - if that's a reality - it's irresponsible (to have school on that day) if that really is our community," said Tad MacMillan, principal of Barrow Elementary School. "I think the school system is wise to factor that in when they plan the calendar."

This year, Madison and Oglethorpe County school districts also aligned their calendars to give teachers and students the day off today.

Oconee County Schools officials don't expect many teachers and students to skip classes today, but they are keeping close tabs in case they need extra substitutes.

School administrators here aren't the only ones who have given in to practicality.

The Alachua County School District in Gainesville, Fla., also builds one Friday holiday into the calendar every year for the Gators' homecoming game. Today, both students and teachers go to school.

Although the problem of teacher absences isn't as bad as it once was at his school, MacMillan can recall when teachers competed to get the day off.

"It was an issue," he said. "There was a significant number of the faculty that wanted to go and put in for it the very first day of school - that's what people did, is put in for that day."

Aside from a solution to a problem, Clarke County teachers and principals also see the holiday as a welcome mid-year break, following the trend set by other school systems, like Barrow County, which was closed for a five-day fall break last week.

"I think it's a wonderful confluence of purposes," MacMillan said. "I know that the Florida game, that's one of the things that's definitely talked about, but the fall holiday is definitely necessary and important. It comes at the perfect time for us.

"When you have teachers who have a chance to take a deep breath and regroup, that's a good thing for children and instruction. Sometimes you just make it into Thanksgiving holidays with your last bit of energy."